He may still be in a vegetative state – the one that has engulfed his life since a 1991 car accident – but after doctor check-ups, Martinez hears the same joke. As a caregiver who also happens to be an MMA fighter and splits his time between the duties, Martinez doesn’t get tired of them.

Martinez gives plenty of attention to keep his father that way. And when he gets to spend time on his own career, that works out pretty well, too.

With newfound fame following an ESPN “Outside the Lines” piece on him and his father that aired this past summer, Martinez (11-2 MMA, 1-0 BFC) will take on Douglas Frey (10-7 MMA, 0-0 BFC) in a featherweight fight at Bellator 62 on Friday in Laredo, Texas. The West Jordan, Utah resident hopes that it’s the next step to entering a Bellator tournament and growing as a fighter, even if he started his career later than some.

But then, the 33-year-old – who began fighting at the urging of former college friend Frankie Edgar – has taken on other responsibilities. As shown on the ESPN piece, Martinez begins his days by physically working out his father, Richard. Once he has finished helping his father, he can then take on his own training.

It is training that has served him well. The former All-American college wrestler has won 10 of his past 11 fights, including his Bellator debut this past September against Brian van Hoven. That has some talking about bigger opportunities on the horizon, particularly if he can continue winning.

That’s half of his focus. The other half – or more – remains on his father and the rest of the family connections in his career, as his brother is also his manager.

“I got hundreds and hundreds of positive messages from people who said (my story) motivates them to get through their day,” Martinez said. “It’s kind of overwhelming to hear some of the nice things that people say. That has helped motivate me, too.”

Wrestler to fighter

Martinez was born in Utah then lived for much of his youth in New Mexico before returning to his native state. Along the way, he has always been near his brother, who like him followed their father’s path in sports.

When they weren’t getting in fights with each other, the brothers were hearing stories about their father’s and uncle’s athletic exploits. Or, they were following them to local racetracks, where their father and uncle also raced cars.

By his sophomore year of high school, Martinez focused on wrestling, and he found quick success. He won a state championship as a sophomore (in the 98-pound weight class) before placing as both a junior a senior, which raised interest from college recruiters. He went to a junior college and then to Division I Clarion University in Pennsylvania.

There, he and Edgar were teammates, which would later influence his athletic career. Years later, Edgar encouraged Martinez to enter a jiu-jitsu class, which led to a successful run in jiu-jitsu tournaments.

“He helped me,” Martinez said, “by riding my butt.”

Once he moved into MMA, he continued his success. But he faced the same problem many up-and-coming fighters meet: gaining attention and support. His brother encouraged him to contact local media outlets to share their story. Once a piece aired on a local television station, ESPN contacted Martinez and asked to produce a segment for its “Outside the Lines” show.

Martinez was hesitant, but he thought he could help others with his story.

“It’s been a pretty cool experience,” he said.

Newfound fame

It took four visits over about a year for the ESPN crews to gain the footage and interviews they needed for the segment. It aired this past summer and told the family’s story.

It was April 1, 1991, when Martinez’s father was in the car accident that left him seriously injured. The family had been close through their lives, and the prognosis was bad.

“The doctors told us he wouldn’t live,” Martinez says during his narration on the segment. “They were wrong, but in some ways it was worse. He suffered a traumatic brain injury.”

Martinez’s mother had died years before, so their grandmother took over primary care for their father. It was taxing for her, and years later she succumbed to cancer after a late diagnosis. That left a void in his father’s care.

Martinez filled it and has taken the responsibility since. It has limited his ability to train, but after seeing the reaction to the ESPN piece, he feels even better about his decision.

It also served to fuel attention and interest in Martinez’s MMA career.

“Before that piece came out, my brother was in contact with all the major organizations, and they were all saying I needed more experience,” he said. “Then the piece came out, and Bellator jumped in. Maybe it was just the kick in the pants they needed to give me a chance. This is a sport where you can be forgotten in a hurry, so I’m glad it helped me get noticed.”

After sorting through the comments and correspondence that flooded in because of the ESPN piece, Martinez is as motivated as ever to succeed. He will try to continue his strong streak on Friday.

“I’m trying to impress and trying to get a shot in the tournament,” he said. “I feel like I need to get in there and show I can be dominant and that I deserve a spot.”

Award-winning newspaper reporter Kyle Nagel is the lead features
writer for MMAjunkie.com. His weekly “Fight Path” column focuses on the
circumstances that led fighters to a profession in MMA. Know a fighter
with an interesting story? Email us at news [at] mmajunkie.com.

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